Fall Training Thoughts

We’ve kicked off year 5 of our fall training series. 2023 is the biggest yet with over 200 players in Baltimore, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and Dallas. 

We love the fall training because it is at the core of what we believe in -- it's all about player development.

Come spring, and even summer, players and coaches are so busy trying to win games. This has both pro's and con's. The pro is that it's what we love to do and what we play for, but the tradeoff is that it's not always the best environment to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and work on your technique. The fall is a great time for that! Here are a few words from our offensive and defensive coaches regarding our fall training programming.

Coach Dunn, Defensive Director

"The way we structure our fall training is largely based on how many colleges structure the positional portion of their fall work. For defenders, this is a great time to learn concepts and develop correct technique and muscle memory to implement it into live scenarios come fall events, winter and spring. We focus heavily on the fundamentals of our approaches, breakdowns, footwork, stick work, and both on-ball and off-ball techniques. I often find that defenders in lacrosse are very good athletes and intuitive; however, they only rely on their instincts and current habits. The truth is that this may not always be the most efficient way to execute. As you get to higher levels, the efficiency of what we do matters so much more. The ability to have a great off-ball stance, a timely approach, and lead with our stick in front can be the difference between a goal or not."

Coach Class, Offensive Director

"Fall training has been off to a great start on the offensive side.

Our focus this fall continues to be around decision making and touches. We are constantly trying to strike the balance between a few repetition based drills, and more semi-live drills involving defenders and decision making.

As I keep watching and observing, I keep thinking about how even simple 2 on 1’s can be manipulated in all sorts of ways to keep them decision making reps. So many coaches often make the decisions for players when at practice and games, and control the situations. So how are the kids actually learning to manipulate defenders and defenses?

Between keep away, mixing in some 3x where we can, and finding ways to compete, our offensive groups are off to a strong start. "

- Coach Dunn

We hope you found this helpful. We started First Class Lacrosse because we believe in the power player development. We believe you can get exponentially better if you combine a great work ethic with the guidance of knowing what to work on and how to do it. Luckily, we experienced it firsthand as players and coaches. Our goal is to pass on what we have learned and experienced to future generations of lacrosse players, parents, and coaches. Join our Email List here.

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